Posted on 04/14/2009 12:17:11 AM PDT by Wil H
Two years ago, Paul Potts, a chubby mobile phone salesman, wowed the British TV public with his performance of Puccini's "Nessum Dorma" to win "Brtiain's Got Talent", The British equivalent to "America's Got Talent".
While good, I didn't think Potts to be that fantastic.
However last weekend, the third season of "Britain's Got Talent" opened and another diamond in the rough emerged.
This one is quite fantastic.
Susan Boyle, a frumpy looking 47 year old Scottish spinster, who lives with her cat "Pebbles" and admits she's never been kissed, came out on stage and told the audience she wanted to be a professional singer but had never had the chance.
She wanted to be like Elaine Paige, she said, and the crowd, and judges, sniggered....
Then she did this ..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY&feature=related ^
Actually, I’ve gone to listen to many church choirs, and that’s partly how I came to my assessment. There are many fine singers out there. Nice to hear from you, bizarre enchanter.
“It was ok”
Thank you Simon. Yeah, she was just ok. If not for the pity factor which greatly altered peoples perceptions of her talent. Problem is my friend, that neither you nor I have the kind of talent that can move millions of people on an emotional level. Granted that musical perceptions are an individuated thing... Some will love her and some will hate her. The real question is whether she is marketable. We can’t market her using sex, because she doesn’t look like she could sub as a porn star or playboy model. We can’t sell her on MTV because she doesn’t have that “video star” quality. Maybe on iTunes if enough people want to hear her. I find her voice amazing.
Neil Boyd... Yeah, amazing voice and ability to connect with the audience. Pretty damn good for a Momma’s Boy, and Miss Boyle is pretty damn good for an Old Maid. Who could ever have imagined that an opera singer would win AGT. This lady will make some amazing recordings if she picks that right songs and some people may be listening to her decades from now. The mix for BGT was a little rough. Her recording of “Cry me a River” from a 1999 Charity CD is amazing.
She’s definitely marketable, based on sympathy. She’s gotten tons of attention. Many people will probably follow through and buy her CD. But maybe not. Ironically, she’s nothing without the video image. It’s the improbability of her, the underdog nature of her, that makes her a story. You put her voice on a CD and it’s just another voice. You hear her on the radio, it’s just a voice. They need you to know her story in order for her to be compelling.
She sang this for a charity cd in her hometown - only 1000 copies were made.
I'm a lot more impressed with this song. Listen to the emotion.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXwc-i5eYdU
I was watching her and I couldn’t help but think that this is what America needs a Susan Boyle President not a Brittany Spears President
So my new tag line
She really does have a wide range on musical ability. I am glad she does not stay in just one genera of music. Can you see her singing, Stormy Weather?????
That would be a good choice for her first cd! :)
Do you think we are being played on this on?
Andy Demetriou on "Britain's Got Talent"
Potts is a beautiful singer, but Piers Morgan is not an opera follower. He is a journalist who covers the British musical theartre, film, and television. I would think that if anybody can recognize an excellent popular voice, it is Piers Morgan.
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